Time-lock



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. H. FLINT.

Time Look;

N0. 242,9". Patented June 14,1881.

Figii Hill (ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. H. FLINT.

Time. Lock. No. 242,911. Patented June 14,1881.-

Fig.4.

N. PETERS. mmuniw m m. Walhingtun, n C.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I access to the contents of the safe at any mo- I EDWIN H. FLINT, on CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TIME-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,911, Medan, 14, 1881. Application filed September 9, 1880. (Model) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, E WIN H. FLINT, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful'lmpr'ovement in Time- Locks, of which the following is a specification.

Locksmiths are familiar with a number of mechanical expedients for releasing the door of a bank safe orvault whose tipaeinechanism has stopped prematurely, so as'to cause what is known as a lockout. Some of these expedients, however, while of use for the specialpurpose of their creation, are inadequate for contingencies that sometimes arise whiclrrender it of great importance that the proper authorities shouldbeenabled to .obtain prompt ment and while the guarding action of the timer may be in full activity. Other expedients have been devised to effect this object by the use of supplemental or extra sets of tumblers.

My invention relates to special opening devices constructed to operate with entire independence of the clock-work and with equal facility, both in the running and stationary conditions thereoflthe arrangement of my special opening mechanism being such as to enable the safe-bolt work to be at any moment released by means of the ordinary tumblers by the concurrent consecutive acts of three persons, in the manner hereinafter explained, without the requirement of supplementary or additional tumblers.

The time-obstruction used by me for the purpose indicated, comprises two dogs or detents, of which either one is capable of preventing retraction of the safebolt work. Both of these detents are, in the normal action of the timer, released simultaneously, and in such action may be considered as one, and aslthen operating as adjuncts of the timemechanism. ()nthe contrary, their release by special manipulation is consecutive and in a prescribed order and wholly independent of the time-movement proper. Under any circumstances, whether by the timer or by special manipulation, their release after havin' g been once set is a condition precedent to the re lease ofthe ordinary obstruction used during business hours, As in my above cited patent all the manipulations are effected through the instrumentality of the ordinary arbor and permutation tumblers, no additional gatings nor supplementary tumblers being employed or necessary; The delay and publicity required for the assemblage of the several persons whose concurrent action is necessary to open the time-lock safe puts it out of the power of burglars to effect an entrance by intimidation of the persons in charge, while the entire independence of the special opening devices of the integrity or even presence ofthe timemovement proper adds an important element of safety and convenience.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is an elevationot' a time-lock embodying my invention, the bolt-work being shown protracted and all the detents being set. Fig. 2 is a partial representation of the same, showing the lower time-detent released by means of the tumbler-mechanism, and the bolt-work partially retracted. Fig. 3 is asimilar view, showing the remaining time-detent released and the bolt-work still further slightly retracted, in order to maintain such release and to hold the lock in condition for complete release by one in possession of the daily formula. In the above figures, portions of the tumbler-case are broken away. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the lock in its unlocked condition, the mechanism being set;for temporary postponement and automatic assumption of the time-guarding action. In this view a portion of the dialring is broken away. Fig. 5 is a section of the line :0 m. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the time-detents and a portion of their automatic releasing mechanism. Fig. 7 shows my adjustable automatic tappet detachd.

The drawings contain no representation of the clock-Work proper, which may be of any customary or appropriate construction.

A and F may represent, respectively, portions of the jamb and of the door of a bank safe or vault. B represents the safe-bolt work handle.

.T represents the handle of'the arbor that retraction of the bolt-work. Notches d d in bar D permit said bar to slide past the timedetents in the released condition of the latter.

H may represent a time mechanism, including any suitable clock-work.

With the exception of the notches d d all the above-mentioned parts maybe of any wellknown or customary form, and require no specific description.

My time mechanism has preferably an annular dial, I, that is adapted to revolve upon three rollers, J J J, of which one roller, J, is fastened to the mainspring-shaft K, whose pinion L meshes in a circular rack, M, on the inner margin of said annular dial.

N represents the customary tappet or projection from the rear of the dial for operating at the assigned period on the releasing-mechanism of the time-detents in the normal operation of the time-lock.

represents the customary stump for arresting the motion of the timer on discharge of its functions.

My time-detents consist of two bent levers, P P, of which each is held to its normal or locked condition by a spring, Q. In this position the heads 12 of the detents stand immediately in rear of the bar D, the lower detent, P, projecting slightly in advance of the upper detent, P.

A sliding rod or bar, R, is pivoted at r to a lever, S, whose other extremity rests upon the lower detent, P. The rod R is notched at r at its upper end to receive a pin upon the arm 3 19, that projects from upper time-detent, P.

U is the lever of the time-releasing mechanism. One end of said lever occupies notch r in rod R, and its other end extends behind the dial sufficiently to receive the impact of tappet N, so as at the proper instant to elevate the rod 1%.

G is a rigid plate or flange, which, being located behind the heads 19 of detents P P, receives the stress of the retracted bolt-work. This elevation of rod R operates to push the two time-detents, P P, into their unlocked positions, and this is what takes place at every normal discharge of the time-mechanism functions. It will be perceived that the detents in such position are directed to the notched portions d d of bar D, and that in such position they no longer oppose the retraction of the bolt-Work.

In order to unlock the safe the ordinary custodian (in the above position of the time-detents) has merely to set up the tumblers in gate with the tongue (1 and withdraw the bolt-work.

For the ordinary diurnal functions of a time and permutation lock the above mechanism is sufficient; but such mechanism is worse than useless in event of premature stoppage of the timer or the approach of a conflagration or other urgent circumstance rendering it necessary to open the safe instantly and out of business hours.

To enable authorized persons under proper safeguards to open the safe after a lock-out,

or even during the active custody of the time mechanism, 1 have provided the following spe' cial releasing devices.

V V are two similar fences or angle-bars, of which each has a rectangular projection or arm, o. The arm of each fence in succession is caused to drop into the ordinary gatings of the tumblers when the latter areset up to the proper respective secret formulas in their determined and proper sequences, as hereinafter explain ed. Each fence, being secured to thelockcaseby a pin,w, that occupies a slot, to, in the fence-plate, is susceptible of a sliding as well as of a vibratory motion. This mode of attachment, in conjunction with a spring, W, compels each fence to assume, when at liberty. the retracted converging position shown in Fig. 1, so as to readily engage in the tumblers when the latter are properly gated for that purpose. Such engagement having been secured, the first opertor presses the bo1t-work gently forward with one hand, and then rotates the tumbler-arbor forward with his other-hand, so as to drag the fence V be direction of the arrow until, impinging on the heel p of the corresponding detent P, it operates to swing said detent so as to confront the notched portion d of bar D. The operator then, still holding the tumblerarbor to the position last named, retracts the bolt-work, (see Fig. 2,) so as to prevent the return of the detent to its locking position. The more projecting lower detent, P, is the first to beoperated, as above, and, becoming thereby engaged in the notch 01, ceases for the time being its dogging action. A similar manipulation by the second operator of the upper detent, P, in conformity with its appropriate formula likewise, in turn, engages it in its proper notch-d, and both detents having been thus rendered inactive the cashier has merely to set up the tumblers to the ordinary formula to be enabled to retract the bolt-work and open the safe. 1

Associated or not with the above-described special releasing mechanism may be a device to enable the custodian, before closing the safe, to set the timer to assume control at any desired moment. For this purpose I provide a trip-lever or trigger, X, which depends from a pivot, 00, and has a shoulder, as, capable of being engaged over a pin, u, that projects from lever U, so as to hold the latter to its releasing position. The trigger X is at the proper instant disengaged by the impact against its oblique extremity 0c of a pin, Z, that projects from the dial. pin Z may be adjustable to any part of the dial-circuit it has a screw-shank, 2, which is tapped into a nut, z, thatoccupies an undercut annular groove, i, in the dial. Upon slightly unscrewing the pin Z the operator can shift the pin to any point on the dial-circuit, according to the moment at which he desires the timer to assume its functions, and then, by tightening the screw, can fix the pin to its place of adjustment.

2 and 3 may represent holes for as many In order that the pins, either or both of which may he used when one or both special operators desires to render his detent inoperative.

4 may represent customary hole for a trialkey.

For manipulation of the special releasing mechanism each special operator, in succession and in the assigned order, grasps the bolt work handle B in his left and the tumblerhandle T in his right hand. To insure the proper operation of the special releasing mechanism each respective special operator is furnished with a secret formula, which, for a four-tumbler lock, is substantially such as follows, the numbers being, of course, arbitrarily selected for each lock:

Special formula No. 1: First, retract and then slightly protract bolt-work; turn tumblerarbor to right 5, stop 67; left 2, stop- 39; right 1, stop 26; left stop 17, right stop 12. Again retract and slightly protract bolt-work.

Special formula No.2 Right 5, stop 19; left 2, stop 82; right 1, stop 69; left stop 58, left stop 63. Again retract and slightly protract bolt-work. I

Daily formula: Left 5, stop 31; right 2, stop 22%; left 1, stop 83; right stop 821}. Oompletcly retractthe bolt-work and open the door.

Ihe above-described preferred form of my invention may be varied in non-essential particulars. For example, one of the time-detents and its corresponding fence may be omitted or be removed, and the lock will remain timeguarded and be specially releasible by the aid of one specialoperator.

Mechanical expedients, such as V V and their described or equivalent accessories, may be employed in connection with special detents and without a timer; but as I contemplate making such a lock the subject of special ap plication for patent, I lay no claim to such under this.

An incidental advantage of my peculiar provision of two time-detents, which operate independently of the tumblers and of each other to guard the bolt-work, is that should the tumblers be forcibly driven in so as to remove the ordinary obstruction the bolt-work remains securely held by these indcpendentand inaccessible obstructions.

By the phrase ordinary tum blers is meant the tumblers that are employed in the ordinary manipulations of the lock during business hours and to the exclusion of supplementary or additional tumblers, none such being used or required in my look.

In comparison with such devices as employ supplementary systems of tumblers my device possesses the important advantages of relative compactness and simplicity, with greater safety against clandestine operators, less encroachment onthe interior capacity of the safe, and greater exemption from risk of derangement.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a time-lock, the combination of suitable door-bolt work, independent time and nont'me obstructions, and releasing mechanism for the time-obstructions operated independently of the timer, and whether the latter is running or not, by the action of the same tumblers which release the non-time obstructions, but under separate or distinct manipulation thereof.

2. In the described combination with a stack of rotary tumblers and an independently-guarding time mechanism whose detents when actin g automatically simultaneously engage with and disengage from the safe-bolt work, the two consecutively-operated fences V V for optional release of the time-obstruction through the instrumentality of the tumblers after each manipulation of the tumblers to a special formula, in the manner set forth.

3. In combination with safe-bolt work havin g ton gue-detent cl and notches cl d, a stack of ordin ary sin glegated rotarytumblers, E, and two detents,P P, operated automatically and simultaneously by the timer, the means, substantially as described, for consecutive release of said detents through the instrumentalit-y of the tumblers independently of timer, and whether the timer be running or not running, substantially as set forth.

4. In the described combination, with independently attached, connected, and operating time'and tumbler locks, the notched connecting bar or rod D d d d d, detents P P, and the fences V V, for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, with the detents P I and retractin g-lever U, of the trip-lever X and the tappet Z, adjustable on the time-dial I, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

EDWIN H. FLINT.

Attest: GEORGE H. KNIGHT,

J. L. LOGAN. 

